Torenia plant named ‘DANLOV196’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Torenia  plant named ‘DANLOV196’ particularly characterized by plenty of delicate, funnel form, cup- shaped flowers with petals in shades of purple-violet, violet and violet-blue with a yellow blotch on lower petal; cascading bush, which maintains a compact, rounded plant habit; vigorous growth habit; densely branched plant, gracefully cascading from hanging baskets; early flowering response and stays in full bloom in moderate climate; suitable as an annual for hanging pots outdoors under partial shade; and good weather tolerance with a preferred temperature range of 15° C. to 25° C.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Torenia sp.

Variety denomination: ‘DANLOV196’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Torenia plant, botanically known as Torenia sp. of the Scrophulariaceae family, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name DANLOV196.

The new Torenia is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Gabriel Danziger, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a new Torenia with unique petal coloration.

The new Torenia originated from a cross made in a controlled breeding program by the inventor, Gabriel Danziger, in 2004 in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The female or seed parent is the Torenia cultivar designated ‘TR 118’ (unpatented) The male or pollen parent is the Torenia cultivar designated ‘TR 112’ (unpatented). The new Torenia cultivar was discovered and selected by the inventor, Gabriel Danziger, as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in April of 2005 in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new Torenia cultivar by soft cuttings was first performed in May of 2005 in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true to type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of ‘DANLOV196’ which in combination distinguish this Torenia as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Plenty of delicate, funnel form, cup-shaped flowers with         petals in shades of purple-violet, violet and violet-blue with a         yellow blotch on lower petal;     -   2. Cascading bush, which maintains a compact, rounded plant         habit;     -   3. Vigorous growth habit;     -   4. Densely branched plant, gracefully cascading from hanging         baskets;     -   5. Early flowering response and stays in full bloom in moderate         climate;     -   6. Suitable as an annual for hanging pots outdoors under partial         shade; and     -   7. Good weather tolerance with a preferred temperature range of         15° C. to 25° C.

Plants of the new Torenia ‘DANLOV196’ differ from plants of the parents, ‘TR 118’ (unpatented) and ‘TR 112’ (unpatented) in the characteristics described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Female Parent Male Parent New Cultivar ‘TR 118 ‘TR 112’ Characteristic ‘DANLOV196’ (unpatented) (unpatented) Mature Flower Petal shades of Petal shades of Petal shades of color purple-violet, vio- blue, with no yel- light blue, with a let and violet- low blotch on yellow blotch on blue, with a yel- lower petal lower petal low blotch on lower petal Flower size Depth: About Depth: About Depth: About 3 cm 2.5 cm 3.5 cm Width: About Width: About Width: About 2.5 cm 3 cm 3 cm Growth habit Cascading bush Trailing Cascading bush Flowering 7 weeks from 8 weeks from 9 weeks from Response planting planting planting Time

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new Torenia ‘DANLOV196’ is the Torenia ‘DANTOMOON10’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,009), in the characteristics described in Table 2:

TABLE 2 Comparison Cultivar New Cultivar ‘DANTOMOON10’ Trait ‘DANLOV196’ (patented) Mature Flower Petal shades of purple- Petal shades of light violet Color violet, violet and violet- blue and violet, with a yel- blue, with a yellow blotch low blotch on lower petal on lower petal Flower size Depth: About 3.0 cm Depth: About 3.8 cm Width: About 2.5 cm Width: About 3.0 cm Growth habit Cascading bush Cascading bush Flowering 7 weeks from planting 5 weeks from planting Response Time

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Torenia ‘DANLOV196’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of ‘DANLOV196’.

FIG. 1 shows a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘DANLOV196’ in a hanging planter at 2 months of age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the typical flowers, buds and leaves of ‘DANLOV196’ at 2 months of age.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Torenia ‘DANLOV196’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘DANLOV196’ as grown in a greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Optimal growth conditions include that plants of ‘DANLOV196’ are grown outdoors in a moderate climate and indoors during the winter season. Irrigation and fertilization are recommended on a regular basis. Plants of ‘DANLOV196’ are usually grown in full sunlight, but partial shade is required in mid summer. Plants of ‘DANLOV196’ are fully grown in 2 months from planting a cutting in the summer season and bloom all year-round in a moderate climate. The ‘DANLOV196’ plants described herein were grown indoors in 13 cm pots in a glass greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, with the day temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 35° C. and night temperatures ranging from 16° C. to 25° C. Plants of ‘DANLOV196’ were fertilized up to a level of 59 ppm N, 35.4 ppm P and 94.4 ppm K.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 2001 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately noon in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The age of the ‘DANLOV196’ plants described is 7 weeks.

-   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Torenia cultivar designated ‘TR 118’             (unpatented).         -   Male or pollen parent.—Torenia cultivar designated ‘TR 112’             (unpatented). -   Propagation: Tissue culture and soft tip cuttings. -   Plant:     -   -   Form.—Bush, cascading.         -   Growth habit.—Rounded.         -   Height.—About 25 cm.         -   Spread.—40 cm to 60 cm.         -   Cold tolerance.—Frost tender. Temperatures below 5° C. may             damage plants.         -   Vigor.—Vigorous growth; plants are fully grown in 2 months             from planting cutting in during summer season. -   Stem:     -   -   Color.—Yellow-Green, RHS 144A.         -   Length.—About 30 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 3 mm.         -   Pubescence.—Minimal.         -   Branching.—About 15 to 35 main branches grow from the base             and split into hundreds of secondary and tertiary branches.         -   Length of internodes.—2 to 8 cm. -   Foliage:     -   -   Overall shape.—Deltoid.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Size of leaf.—Width: 1.5 cm to 3.5 cm Length: About 2 cm to             4 cm.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Color (mature).—Center color of leaf: Green, RHS 137A Upper             side: Green, RHS 137A Under side: Green, RHS 138B.         -   Color (immature).—Center color of leaf: Green, RHS 138A             Upper side: Green, RHS 138A Under side: Green, RHS 138B.         -   Leaf texture.—Upper: Glabrous with sensible veins Under:             Glabrous with sensible veins.         -   Venation.—Pattern: Anastomotic Color: Upper surface:             Yellow-Green, RHS 150C Lower surface: Green, RHS 143C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 0.2 cm to 0.6 cm Diameter: About 1.0             mm Color: Green, RHS 143C. -   Flowers:     -   -   Blooming period.—All year round in a moderate climate or in             a greenhouse environment. In Israel, flowering occurs             between March and November outdoors.         -   Flowering response time.—About 7 weeks from planting.         -   Flowering stem.—Flowers appear along the growing stems.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Per stem: About 5 to 8;. Per plant:             About 120 to 180.         -   Flowering longevity.—On the plant: about 2 to 5 days,             depending on temperature.         -   Type.—Single.         -   Shape.—Overall: funnel form; 5-winged; Corolla tube:             cylindrical or often broadened above; Corolla: 2-lipped, the             upper lip faintly 2-lobed, the lower lip 3-lobed.         -   Orientation at opening.—Slanted upward.         -   Fragrance.—None.         -   Flower size.—Depth: About 3.0 cm Width: About 2.5 cm.         -   Bud.—Shape: Oblong, cylindrical, ellipsoid, 5-winged Size:             Length: About 1.5 cm Diameter: About 7.0 mm.         -   Color.—Apex: Yellow-Green, RHS 144A Base: Yellow-Green, RHS             144A.         -   Texture.—Pubescence on winged edges.         -   Floral tube.—Length: About 2.5 cm Width: About 0.5 cm to 1.3             cm Color: Outside: Purple-Violet, RHS N82B (apex),             Yellow-Orange, RHS 18C (middle) and Yellow, RHS 11D (base).             Inside: Purple-Violet, RHS N82C (apex) and Yellow, RHS 13A             (base).         -   Petals.—Number: Four, fused. Length: Upper Petal: About 1.6             cm; Side Petals: About 2.0 cm; Lower Petal: About 1.3 cm.             Width: Upper Petal: About 2.5 cm; Side Petals: About 1.0 cm;             Lower Petal: About 1.7 cm. Shape: Upper Petal:Overall:             spatulate, Apex: rounded, Base: fused; Side Petals: Overall:             spatulate, Apex: rounded, Base: fused; Lower: Overall:             spatulate, Apex: rounded, Base: fused. Margin: Undulated and             toothed. Color: Mature Petals: Upper Surface: Upper Petal:             Near apex, Purple-Violet, RHS N82A, and near base,             Violet-Blue, RHS 91C; and margin, Purple-Violet, RHS N82A;             Side Petals: Violet: Near apex, RHS N87A, with centralized             RHS N87A, and near base, RHS N87B, and margin RHS N87B;             Lower Petal: Primarily Violet-Blue, RHS 91A, with Yellow,             RHS 4B blotch in the middle near base, and Violet-Blue, RHS             91C color surrounding blotch and near base, and margin,             Violet-Blue, RHS 91C. Lower Surface: Upper Petal:             Violet-Blue: Near apex, RHS 92B, and near base, RHS 92B and             margin, RHS 92C; Side Petals: Near apex, Violet, RHS N87A,             and near base, Violet-Blue, RHS 92C and Violet-Blue, margin,             RHS 92C; Lower Petal: Violet-Blue: Near apex, RHS 91B, and             near base, RHS 91C and margin, RHS 91C. Throat: Upper             throat: Violet, RHS 85B; Lower throat: Violet, RHS 85A.             Immature Petals: Upper Surface: Upper Petal: Near apex,             Violet-Blue, RHS 92D, and near base, Violet-Blue, RHS 92D;             and margin, Violet, RHS 86B; Side Petals: Violet, Near apex,             RHS 86A, near base, RHS 86A, and margin RHS 86C; Lower             Petal: Primarily Violet-Blue, RHS 91C, with Yellow, RHS 4C             blotch in the middle near base, and margin, Violet, RHS             N88C. Lower Surface: Upper Petal: Violet-Blue: Near apex,             RHS 92D, and near base, RHS 92C and margin, RHS 92A; Side             Petals: Violet-Blue: Near apex, RHS 93B, and near base, RHS             92C, and margin, RHS 92C; Lower Petal: Violet-Blue: Near             apex, RHS 92D, and near base, RHS 92D and margin, RHS 92C;             Throat: Center of Flower: Violet-Blue, RHS 92B.         -   Sepals.—Number: 5 Length: About 1.5 cm Width: About 0.8 cm             Shape: Two-lobed, 5-winged Apex: Acute Base: Wedge shaped             Margin: Undulated Color: Green, RHS 143C.         -   Peduncle.—Length: About 1.5 cm to 3.0 cm Diameter: About 2.0             mm Color: RHS 143B. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Stamen: Number: 2 pairs per flower, fused Color:             Violet-Blue, RHS 91D Anther: Length: About 0.3 cm; Width:             About 1.0 mm Color (mature): Grey-Brown, RHS 199A Spur: Not             Present Filament: Length: About 1.2 cm; upper anther shorter             — about 0.3 cm Width: About 1.0 mm Color: Violet-Blue, RHS             91D Pollen: Amount: Sparse. Color: Grey-Brown, RHS N155D             Requirements for pollination: Young flowers, active pollen,             and receptive, open stigma.         -   Gynoecium.—Pistil: Number: One per flower Length: About 2.4             cm Stigma: Length: About 0.2 cm Width: About 0.2 cm Color:             White, RHS N155B Style: Length: About 1.8 cm Color: White,             RHS N155C Ovary: Number: 1 Length: About 0.4 cm Width: About             0.2 cm Color: Green, RHS 143B. -   Seed/fruit: None. -   Pest/disease resistance and/or susceptibility: A standard     preventative spray program is sufficient as no susceptibility was     observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Sensitive to temperatures below 5° C. 

1. A new and distinct Torenia plant named ‘DANLOV196’, as illustrated and described herein. 